[yalwas]

Even though I have lower than 3.0 GPA on my undergrad and have a gap in employment due to visa issues, I passed ALL 4 sections of the CPA exam, so why am i not getting calls back?? I dont understand???

I need help with CV.. I tried left and right, I tried going to my school career section and they say my CV is good, but then nothing happens.

I tried to read multiple guides on how to get a job at Big 4, no luck

I tried small firms, they are even worse, they take 2 or 3 people from 400-500 people????!!

I ask them what I can do, and all they say is: “Please undestand it is extremely competitive…..” What does this mean to me, absolutely nothing

These “competitive” people only managed to be lucky and get the right kind of help and referrals.. What if i have aspergers syndrome and I cant get “friends” to help me.

The only career for me that is viable is accounting because of my autism, so why am I being discriminated here….

S.O.S….

[Zaq]

GPA = the guards. They keep you out the gate.

If you somehow make it past the guards with an average GPA then personality is everything. Hell, even 4.0 guys get rejected if their social skills are lackluster. The Big 4 is a cult organization. They want to work with people with the same mindset, mentality, and communicative skills as themselves. You most likely don't or won't fit the pedigree… especially with that victimizing attitude (no offense).

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[Zaq]

GPA = the guards. They keep you out the gate.

If you somehow make it past the guards with an average GPA then personality is everything. Hell, even 4.0 guys get rejected if their social skills are lackluster. The Big 4 is a cult organization. They want to work with people with the same mindset, mentality, and communicative skills as themselves. You most likely don't or won't fit the pedigree… especially with that victimizing attitude (no offense).

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[samchi008]

Try looking outside the US to get into a Big 4. They might not focus some much on your GPA. There are plenty of offices in the caribbean that may hire you.

[samchi008]

Try looking outside the US to get into a Big 4. They might not focus some much on your GPA. There are plenty of offices in the caribbean that may hire you.

[Anonymous]

I guess I am being bias, but it stems from jealously because I know if I didn't have to support myself 100% through college I'd be able to have a higher GPA, which is what is ultimately keeping me from getting hired from a reputable firm. I just don't know how to get a high GPA with an internship m, w, f all day, classes 8am-5pm t and th, and serving at a restaurant friday nights, saturday all day, and sunday lunch.

@AVG13, kudos to you that you were able to manage that. I'm not saying all high gpa students don't deserve it, but there are some who I went to school with think it's everything and look down upon people who have a low gpa. My apologies for sounding rude.

[Anonymous]

I guess I am being bias, but it stems from jealously because I know if I didn't have to support myself 100% through college I'd be able to have a higher GPA, which is what is ultimately keeping me from getting hired from a reputable firm. I just don't know how to get a high GPA with an internship m, w, f all day, classes 8am-5pm t and th, and serving at a restaurant friday nights, saturday all day, and sunday lunch.

@AVG13, kudos to you that you were able to manage that. I'm not saying all high gpa students don't deserve it, but there are some who I went to school with think it's everything and look down upon people who have a low gpa. My apologies for sounding rude.

[mla1169]

I worked full time through college, while raising 2 kids and kept a 3.75 GPA. Not everybody with good grades is fortunate enough to be on the mommy & daddy plan, but working full time and a decent GPA are not mutually exclusive.

Yalwas, I don't believe you are being discriminated against because of your autism, unless you are putting that on your resume. GPA is a big deal, and this is not one of the prime hiring times. However if you were able to pass the CPA you are able to do anything you set out to do if you are persistent enough.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

I worked full time through college, while raising 2 kids and kept a 3.75 GPA. Not everybody with good grades is fortunate enough to be on the mommy & daddy plan, but working full time and a decent GPA are not mutually exclusive.

Yalwas, I don't believe you are being discriminated against because of your autism, unless you are putting that on your resume. GPA is a big deal, and this is not one of the prime hiring times. However if you were able to pass the CPA you are able to do anything you set out to do if you are persistent enough.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Like others have mentioned, unless you have experience, passing the CPA exam will not override the sub-3.0 GPA. When I interviewed for a Big 4 internship during college, they wouldn't even look at your resume if your GPA was below a 3.3. Once you passed that hurdle, personality was the next biggest factor. If the recruiter/interviewer didn't think you'd fit in well with the rest of the office, you didn't move forward.

I think your best bet is to start somewhere not Big 4, then if you still really want Big 4 apply as an experienced hire. Once you have experience, that plus the CPA exam is (sometimes – depends on the firm) more powerful than a GPA.

Full disclosure – I'm actually leaving Big 4, and of the 3 companies I interviewed with, 1 of them still asked about my GPA in school. I finished my Masters almost 5 years ago, and they still cared about GPA. But, it was only 1 of the 3, so really not too bad.

To sum it up, unfortunately I think your GPA is the culprit.

[Anonymous]

Like others have mentioned, unless you have experience, passing the CPA exam will not override the sub-3.0 GPA. When I interviewed for a Big 4 internship during college, they wouldn't even look at your resume if your GPA was below a 3.3. Once you passed that hurdle, personality was the next biggest factor. If the recruiter/interviewer didn't think you'd fit in well with the rest of the office, you didn't move forward.

I think your best bet is to start somewhere not Big 4, then if you still really want Big 4 apply as an experienced hire. Once you have experience, that plus the CPA exam is (sometimes – depends on the firm) more powerful than a GPA.

Full disclosure – I'm actually leaving Big 4, and of the 3 companies I interviewed with, 1 of them still asked about my GPA in school. I finished my Masters almost 5 years ago, and they still cared about GPA. But, it was only 1 of the 3, so really not too bad.

To sum it up, unfortunately I think your GPA is the culprit.

[Anonymous]

Another suggestion – do you need any more education to be eligible for your CPA license? If you need more education and you think you can get a better GPA in grad school than you have right now, maybe that's a path to consider too.

[Anonymous]

Another suggestion – do you need any more education to be eligible for your CPA license? If you need more education and you think you can get a better GPA in grad school than you have right now, maybe that's a path to consider too.

[Anonymous]

@OP:

You seem to have fallen victim to the stereotype that accountants don't have to interact with other people. This may be true at the clerk level, but at any public accounting job you HAVE to work as a team and work well with clients. Social skills are an absolute must. It is a professional service job, you need to be able to please clients.

I'd suggest going to grad school and posting a higher GPA in that avenue. I had a 3.2 in undergrad and am in grad school two years later working on my 150 credits. My grad GPA so far is a 4.0 which I am sure will help me come recruiting time.

[Anonymous]

@OP:

You seem to have fallen victim to the stereotype that accountants don't have to interact with other people. This may be true at the clerk level, but at any public accounting job you HAVE to work as a team and work well with clients. Social skills are an absolute must. It is a professional service job, you need to be able to please clients.

I'd suggest going to grad school and posting a higher GPA in that avenue. I had a 3.2 in undergrad and am in grad school two years later working on my 150 credits. My grad GPA so far is a 4.0 which I am sure will help me come recruiting time.

[fuzyfro89]

Yalwas:

GPA is holding you back. Keep trying, but remember that timing is also important.

1) Most hiring for entry level is done in the fall for the following January/fall (i.e. hiring in fall 2014 for January 2015 and Fall 2015 start dates). If I had to pick a number, I'd guess 90% of entry level hires are done at this time.

2) Go to grad school and get better grades.

3) Start somewhere else and obtain your CPA license. Once you are licensed and have 1+ years of experience, you are golden to come in as an experienced hire. They LOVE LICENSED CPA's.

Because the Big 4 are… big, they have to be much more structured in their hiring. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, for a partner to try to hire someone if they do not meet their minimum HR-required GPA cutoff of 3.0 (for entry level, anyway).

Now that you passed the exam, get some experience. Any experience that will get you licensed. Go from there, and never stop chasing the Big 4 if that's what you really want.

[Author]

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